Medvedev: US Mideast policy contributed to rise of Islamic State

Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev has blamed the strengthening of terrorist group Islamic State on “irresponsible” US policies in the Middle East, calling for all nations to stop destabilizing sovereign countries for their own purposes.

“Instead of concentrating their common efforts on fighting terrorism, the United States and their allies have started to oppose Syria’s legally-elected president, Bashar Assad,” Dmitry Medvedev was quoted as saying by TASS. “A reasonable policy in Mideast countries is supporting legitimate regimes that are capable of securing the territorial integrity of local countries, not in trying to destabilize the situation,” he said.

The Russian PM recalled that some time ago the US contributed to the strengthening of the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization, leading to the 9/11 attacks. He also noted that the lessons of the past confirm that the terrorist threat can only be fought by a joint effort, without division into competing alliances.

The comments came shortly after US President Barack Obama vowed to destroy Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), in statements made to the press during a visit to Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia. Obama also urged President Vladimir Putin to "go after the people who killed Russia's citizens," referring to the downing of the Russian A231 airliner over Sinai, Egypt, on October 31.

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Last week, Russia’s Lower House of Parliament approved a declaration expressing solidarity with all nations that have suffered from terrorist attacks, calling on them to form a major coalition to fight terrorism and put an end to attacks on civilians.

“The Deputies of the State Duma urge lawmakers from Europe, North America, the Middle East and Central Asia, and other regions of the world to do all in their power to create an international anti-terror coalition. The necessity to protect human lives and the moral duty to terror victims make this an obligation for us all,” reads the resolution. “Only the joint efforts of the whole international community would be able to stop the terrorism that is expanding now right before our eyes,” it says.

This document also mentions the United States’ role in destabilizing the Middle East, as well as Russia’s past warnings about a potential crisis in the region.

“Apparently, the irresponsible and faulty policies of Western countries launched under the slogan of ‘exporting democracy’ have already led to an emerging and strengthening of the so-called Islamic State. Attempts to use radical groups as a battering ram for the displacement of disagreeable regimes can cause further negative developments. Now France and other European nations are actually paying for Washington’s shortsighted and selfish policies,” the resolution says.